Plaateau on Track to Becoming Malaria-Free as SMC Program Hits One Million

Plateau State Records Significant Drop in Malaria Cases as SMC Programme Hits Over One Million Children

Jos, Plateau State – The Plateau State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) says its ongoing Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) project has significantly reduced malaria prevalence across all 17 local government areas of the state.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Jos on Wednesday, SMEP Programme Manager, NDAK Kizito, disclosed that more than 1,012,160 children under the age of five have received Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine with Amodiaquine (SPAQ) medication in the last three implementation cycles, achieving 106 percent coverage.

“THE SMC INTERVENTION IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING MALARIA CASES IN PLATEAU,” KIZITO STATED, ADDING THAT MALARIA PREVALENCE IN THE STATE HAD DROPPED TO 18.8 PERCENT, WITH AN UNPUBLISHED MALARIA INDICATOR SURVEY (MIS) SUGGESTING A FURTHER REDUCTION TO 15 PERCENT.

He expressed optimism that with the fourth and fifth cycles of SPAQ administration, Plateau could be on track to becoming malaria-free.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, applauded the achievements, describing the SMC project as a major milestone in the state’s fight against malaria.

“SOME YEARS BACK, MALARIA PREVALENCE IN PLATEAU WAS AROUND 21 PERCENT. THAT FIGURE HAS NOW DROPPED TO ABOUT 18 PERCENT, AND WITH THE MOST RECENT REVIEW, THOUGH YET TO BE MADE PUBLIC, INDICATIONS SHOW A REDUCTION TO AROUND 15 PERCENT,” BAAMLONG EXPLAINED.

“IF WE SUSTAIN THIS PROGRESS, WE SHOULD SOON BE RECORDING LESS THAN 10 PERCENT MALARIA CASES PER YEAR. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS FOR THE STATE, ESPECIALLY AMONG CHILDREN AGED THREE MONTHS TO 59 MONTHS, WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE,” HE ADDED.

Also speaking, Dr Mbwas Mashor, Plateau State Project Manager of the Malaria Consortium, representing Dr Maxwell Kolawole, West and Central African Programme Director, said the engagement was aimed at sensitising journalists and stakeholders while briefing them on preparations for the fourth SMC cycle, scheduled to begin across Plateau State on September 4.

The Director of Public Health, Dr Mafwalal Bunah Masok, commended the Malaria Consortium for its consistent support.

“THEIR BACKING HAS BEEN CRITICAL IN REDUCING MALARIA BURDEN AMONG UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN, WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO SEVERE MALARIA THAT OFTEN LEADS TO DEATH. THE INTERVENTION HAS DRASTICALLY CUT DOWN THE BURDEN IN THIS HIGH-RISK AGE GROUP,” HE NOTED.

Other stakeholders at the session, including Pharm Lohdip Dojul, Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Plateau State Chapter); Agwo Martin Dagen, Chairman, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (Plateau State); and Dr Nakah Joseph Nababa, representing the Nigerian Medical Association (Plateau State Chapter), congratulated the Malaria Consortium and SMEP on their successes. They also highlighted the role of the media in amplifying awareness and sustaining public participation in the fight against malaria.